Watch the mechanism of disease video to learn more about the underlying sources of ITP

ITP is driven by multiple immune pathways1-3

In ITP, autoreactive B cells produce autoantibodies that target platelets for destruction by macrophages and impair megakaryocyte maturation, which then inhibits platelet production. Autoantibodies may also destroy platelets through other mechanisms.1,2

Adapted from Kashiwagi H, et al. Int J Hematol. 2013;98(1):24-33. © Japanese Society of Hematology (JSH)

Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) regulates key processes in B cells and macrophages1,4

B cells are critical to autoantibody production and macrophages are critical to phagocytosis. Both of these processes are regulated by BTK.

  • In B cells: The BTK pathway is crucial for proliferation, differentiation, and autoantibody production
  • In macrophages: Various signaling pathways dependent on BTK drive phagocytosis, degranulation, and the production of inflammatory cytokines

Ongoing research has found that patients living with ITP have elevated inflammatory markers, including1:

  • TNF-α and IFN-γ
  • IL-2 and IL-6
  • NLRP3 inflammasome cytokines IL-1β and IL-18

BTK plays a critical role in the production or activation of these inflammatory markers and is a critical driver of inflammation

IFN, interferon; IL, interleukin; NLRP3, nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing protein 3; TNF, tumor necrosis factor.

Next: Patients need more treatment options

Learn about unmet needs in the current ITP treatment landscape.

Unmet Needs in ITP

    1. Neys SFH, Hendriks RW, Corneth OBJ. Targeting Bruton's tyrosine kinase in inflammatory and autoimmune pathologies. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021;9:668131. 2. Cooper N, Ghanima W. Immune thrombocytopenia. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(10):945-955. 3. Kashiwagi H, Tomiyama Y. Pathophysiology and management of primary immune thrombocytopenia. Int J Hematol. 2013;98(1):24-33. 4. Zhu S, Gokhale S, Jung J, et al. Multifaceted immunomodulatory effects of the BTK inhibitors ibrutinib and acalabrutinib on different immune cell subsets - beyond B lymphocytes. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021;9:727531.